Wrist band key holder



Jan. 28, 1964 G. GOLDSTEIN 3,119,249

WRIST BAND KEY HOLDER Filed Dec. 7, 1961 INVENTOR; GEORGE GOLDSTElN BY ATTORNEY United States Patent Office 3,119,249 Patented Jan. 28, 1964 3,119,249 WRIST BAND KEY HOLDER George Goldstein, 672 Empire BIWL, Brooklyn 13, N.Y. Filed Dec. 7, 1961, Ser. No. 157,663 1 (Ilaini. (Cl. 70-456) This invention relates generally to key holders and more particularly to a combined wrist band or bracelet key holder and identification device.

Various types of devices have been provided for holding keys in pockets, handbags and other devices. However, in devices of this type it is sometimes difficult to remove a key from a pocket and it is also difiicult to locate a key in a handbag. With this thought in mind, this invention contemplates means for retaining a key or keys in position upon a wrist whereby it is always in position for use and whereby it is only necessary to withdraw a key and insert it in a keyhole in order to use the key, particularly when time is essential.

A primary object of the present invention therefore is to provide a bracelet or Wrist band with means for retaining a key therein.

Another object of the invention is to provide a bracelet key holder wherein the key may be used without being detached from the bracelet.

A further object is to provide a bracelet key holder wherein the key is easily and quickly accessible, securely held against loss when not in use, and further retained in a handy and out-of-thewvay position.

Yet another object is to provide a bracelet key holder especially adapted for the convenient carrying of locker keys by bathers or participants in athletic or gymnastic sports when divested of their usual clothing.

A specific object of the invention is to provide a combined bracelet key holder and identification device.

It is also an object of the invention to provide a bracelet key holder that is simple and rugged in construction, and that can be manufactured and sold at a reasonable cost.

For further comprehension of the invention, and of the objects and advantages thereof, reference will be had to the following description and accompanying drawings, and to the appended claims in which the various novel features of the invention are more particularly set forth.

In the accompanying drawings forming a material part of this disclosure:

FIG. 1 is a front perspective view of a combined bracelet key holder and identification device embodying one form of my invention.

FIG. 2 is a sectional view taken on the line 22 of FIG. 1.

FIG. 3 is a vertical sectional view through the longitudinal center of the casing of FIG. 1, a key being shown moved to operative position, and a key being shown partly moved in dot-dash lines.

FIG. 4 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 4-4 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 5 is an enlarged horizontal sectional view taken on the line 5-5 of FIG. 3.

FIG. 6 is a View similar to FIG. 3 of a modification of the invention, keys being shown in inoperative position, a key being shown partly removed in dot-dash position.

Referring in detail to the drawings and particularly to FIG. 1, a combined bracelet key holder and identification device is shown and designated by the reference numeral 10. The device is formed of non-precious metal or other suitable bracelet material and comprises an annular stretchable band 12 composed of a plurality of abutting narrow rectangular-shaped plates 14 joined by elastic members 16 to permit the band to be stretched over the hand and to fit the wrist of the wearer.

The ends of the band are connected to the ends of a rectangular-shaped metal hollow casing 20 rectangular in configuration and in cross section. The connection is made by looping the ends of the band around pintles 22 supported by top and bottom extensions 24 and 26, respectively, as viewed in FIGS. 1 and 4.

The casing 20 comprises a front wall 28, rear wall 30, end walls 32, 32, top wall 34 and is open at the bottom as indicated at 36 as viewed in FIG. 3. The front and rear walls are closely spaced from each other.

Inside the casing, which has but a single compartment 38, a pair of keys 40 are pivotally mounted on a transverse sectional shaft device 41. The keys are of ordinary construction having an elongated fiat tapered body 42 with a straight long edge 44, a toothed long edge 46 and a handle 48. The shaft device 41 comprises, as best seen in FIG. 4, a screw 50 having a noncircular head 52 embedded in a countersunk recess 54 in the inner surface of front wall 28, extending into a tubular socket member 56 which has a circular slotted head 58 extending through an opening 64) in the rear wall 36 in line with the screw. The tubular socket member has internal screw threads 62. The shanks of the screw 56 and socket member 56 constitute the shaft on which the keys 40 are mounted, the shaft extending through holes 64 in the key handles 48. The keys are normally disposed in juxtaposed alignment horizontally in the compartment 38 and hidden from view.

Means is provided for selectively ejecting a key 4%) out through the open bottom 36 of the casing 24). For this purpose, an elongated lever 66 is rockably mounted inside the casing 26 in the compartment 38. One end of the lever is fastened to one end of a shaft 68 extending through an opening in the front wall 28, the other end of the shaft being fastened to one end of an elongated vertically disposed actuating handle or knob 70 on the outside of the front plate. Movement of the handle will rock the lever 66. The lever is positioned above the straight edges 44 of the keys and is of sufiicient thickness to span the straight edges 44 of both keys as shown in FIG. 2. The lever is formed with an enlargement having a cam face 72 normally contacting the straight edges of the keys. Movement of the handle 78 in a counterclockwise direction as viewed in FIG. 1 will also rock the lever 66 counterclockwise forcing both keys 40 around the shaft 41 in a similar direction and out through the open bottom 36 of the casing to the vertical operative position of the extended key shown in FIG. 3. The key that is not to be used is then manually, by means of the finger of the user, swung clockwise back into the compartment 38 in the casing, forcing the lever 66 ahead of it to normal horizontal position. When the key is in extended operative position, perpendicular to the plane of the casing 20, as shown in FIG. 3, it may be inserted into a lock for actuating the locking mechanism, the cas ing 20 serving as a handle. In order to retract the extended key to inoperative position inside the casing, it is merely necessary to swing the key clockwise as viewed in FIG. 3, by means of the finger of the user.

The keys 4% are held against accidental displacement in the casing by friction against spacing washers '74 on the shaft 41 between the keys and between the rear key and rear wall 30. The pressure against the keys may be adjusted by turning the socket member 56 by a tool inserted in the slot thereof.

The invention contemplates placing indicia on the outer surface of the front wall 23 such as a name, as indicated at 76, for identification of the wearer.

In FIG. 6, a combined bracelet key holder and identification device it) embodying a modified form of the invention is illustrated, the band 12 being omitted. This form of the invention diifers from the form shown in FIGS. 1 to 5, inclusive, in that both the top and bottom of the casing 24) are open, and in that a shaft 41 is mounted adjacent one end of the casing above the longitudinal center thereof and another shaft 41 is mounted adjacent the opposite end below the longitudinal center. A pair of keys 40' is mounted on each shaft 41', with their handles 48 in opposed relation so that the keys of one pair are adapted to be moved through the opening in the top of the casing and the keys of the other pair through the opening in the bottom of the casing. A space 80 is normally provided between the handles 58' of one pair of keys and the bodies 42' of the adjacent pair of keys. In each space 80, there is rockably mounted a lever 66' with one end fastened to a shaft 68', its other end having an enlargement with a cam face 72 in line with the straight edges 44' of one pair of keys. Shaft 63' extends through a hole in the Wall 28 of the casing and is rocked by an elongated actuating handle 70' on the outside of the Wall.

The levers 66 function similarly to lever 66 in moving the keys to extended operative position. As viewed in FIG. 6, one lever 66' is adapted to swing the top pair of keys 40 counterclockwise out through the opening in the top of the casing and the other lever 66 is adapted to swing the bottom pair of keys 49' counterclockwise out through the opening in the bottom of the casing to vertical perpendicular operative position such as shown in FIG. 3. The keys 4% are retracted in a manner similar to the keys 40.

In all other respects the device is similar to the device 10 and similar reference numerals are used to indicate similar parts.

The combined bracelet key holder and identification device 10' accommodates a larger number of keys than the device 10.

While I have illustrated and described the preferred embodiments of my invention, it is to be understood that I do not limit myself to the precise constructions herein disclosed and that various changes and modifications may be made within the scope of the invention as defined in the appended claims.

Having thus described my invention, What I claim as new, and desire to secure by United States Letters Patent is:

A combined bracelet key holder and identification device comprising a hollow rectangular casing having a front wall with an opening therethrough and a counter sunk recess therein, a rear wall closely spaced from the front wall, said rear wall having an opening therethrough, a top wall, said casing being open at the bottom, a sectional shaft extending across the space between the front and rear walls, said shaft including an internally screw threaded socket member with a slotted head constituting one section and a screw member in said socket member with a noncircular head constituting the other section of the shaft, the slotted head of the socket member disposed in the opening in the rear wall, the noncircular head of the screw member disposed in the countersunk recess in the front wall, a pair of keys rockably mounted in juxtaposed aligned relation on the sectional shaft inside the casing, a shaft journaled in the front and rear Walls and extending outside of the front wall, a camming lever fastened at one end to the latter shaft inside the casing, said lever having a carnming face normally spanning and contacting both keys, and an actuating handle on the outer end of the latter shaft outside of the casing for rocking said latter shaft whereby the lever is rocked to move the pair of keys outwardly of the opening in the bottom of the casing to operative position, outside of the casing, one of said keys being adapted to be retracted manually.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 807,402 Scanlan Dec. 12, 1905 1,889,471 Glaenzer Nov. 29, 1932 2,070,546 Gits Feb. 9, 1937 2,287,521 Handley June 23, 1942 2,593,030 Holmgren Apr. 15, 1952 FOREIGN PATENTS 68,229 France Oct. 28, 1957 1,071,303 Germany Dec. 17, 1959 

